Council Releases Updated Climate Action Plan

The new version of Maine Won’t Wait maintains a goal of 30% conserved land in the state by 2030, while calling for dedicated Land for Maine’s Future funding as a strategy to get there.

On November 21, the Maine Climate Council released the state’s updated four-year action plan, Maine Won’t Wait (PDF). The revised plan builds on Maine’s success in fighting climate change and recommends strategies to advance the state’s work in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, achieving carbon neutrality, strengthening Maine’s resilience to the impacts of climate change, and growing Maine’s economy.

Recommendations include making Maine homes and businesses more energy efficient through weatherization and heat pump installation, transitioning to renewable energy sources to reduce Maine’s reliance on fossil fuels, and promoting electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions within Maine’s transportation sector. The new version of Maine Won’t Wait also maintains a goal of 30% conserved land in the state by 2030, while calling for dedicated Land for Maine’s Future funding as a strategy to get there.

By law, the Maine Climate Council — an assembly of scientists, industry leaders, bipartisan local and state officials, and engaged citizens — is required to update the Climate Action Plan every four years. This latest plan updates the original Maine Won’t Wait plan delivered in 2020. Over the past four years, the Council has convened regularly to weigh evolving science (PDF), track the state’s progress toward its ambitious climate goals, and consider the impact of local, national, and global events and trends on Maine’s climate action plan. This updated plan includes input from 10 working groups, subcommittees, and task forces formally assembled to advise the Council.

The updated Maine Won’t Wait advances many of the goals of the 2020 report, with a focus on affordability of power for Maine people and businesses in the transition to clean energy, recalibrating electric vehicle goals in response to post-pandemic market changes, and striving to ensure that all Maine people have access to climate action, investments, and opportunities. It includes new goals for managing the climate impacts of waste, supporting land use planning to advance climate goals, and building more energy-efficient housing, as well as additional strategies to prepare communities, people, and infrastructure for tackling severe weather events. The Maine Climate Council will continue to meet quarterly in 2025 to monitor progress implementing the updated plan (PDF).